Construct - Issue 48

Project

LONDON

London’s Whitehall is lined with imposing government buildings. Now, one of them, the Old War Office, has been converted into a luxury hotel development, with FM Conway carrying out public realm works to ensure it sits comfortably within its historic surroundings. The Grade II* listed Old War Office was built in the early 1900s, with a huge stone façade housing soaring ceilings, grand staircases, oak panelling and mosaic floors. Senior political figures, including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, and Lord Kitchener, worked there over the next 100 years, as well as James Bond author Ian Fleming. But by the 21st Century the building was no longer suitable, and in 2015 it was sold to LONDON’S LATEST LUXURYHOTEL ISACONVERSIONOFACENTURY OLDGOVERNMENTBUILDING IN THEHEARTOFWESTMINSTER, WITHPUBLICREALMTOMATCH THEHISTORICLOCATION

the Hinduja Group, which had an ambitious £1.4 billion plan to restore the interiors and convert it into a 5-star Raffles hotel, spa and restaurants and build 85 private residences. After six years behind hoardings, the building re-emerged in September 2023 after contractor Ardmore completed a £500 million refurbishment. As part of that contract, Ardmore appointed FM Conway to carry out the public realm works around the building. “It’s an incredible building,” says the head of contracts Mark Goudy. “I feel very fortunate to have worked on it.” The work focused on creating new vehicular access and additional layby and drop-off areas, removing some of the existing hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) walls and installing 71 new HVM bollards. “The aim was to bring an open feel to the new public realm, and to create access to the building on foot and by car,” Mark explains.

FACTS Contract The Old War Office

Location Whitehall, London

Client Ardmore

Contract period December 2022 – December 2023

FM Conway division – Term maintenance

The Old War Office is bound by roads on all four sides. In Horse Guards Avenue, the

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